Bottle-capping machine.



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Patented Sept. 25, 1917.

9 SHEETS-QHEET l.

T. OBRIEN. BOTTLE cvAPPlNG MA'cHmE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 6. IBIS.

Patented Sept. 25, 1917.

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Moana-13 T. UBRIEN.

BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE. APPLlcAloNfrlLeD FEB. e. 1915.

Patented Spt. 25, 1917.

WMe/mz T. OBRIEN.

BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE.

T. OBRIEN.

BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATloN FILED FEB-.6.1915.

Patented Sept. 25, 1917.

T. DBRIEN.

BOTTLE CAPPIN'G MACHINE.

T. omEN. BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE.

T. OBRIEN. BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED fea. 6. |915.

Patented Sept. 25, 1917.

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RIEN.'

BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICAUON FILED FEB. 6. I9I5.

Patented sept. 25, 191?.

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THOMAS OBRIEN, OF 'NEW YORK, N. Y.

BOTTLE-CAPPING MACHINE.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that 1, THOMAS OBRIEN, a

citizen of the United States, and resident of Tew York city, borough of Bronx, in the county of Bronx and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful 1mprovements in Bottle-Capping Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in machines for applying caps upon bottles, such, for instance, as caps commonly called crowns, and the objects of -my invention are to provide simple and efficient means for receiving and successively applying the caps upon succeeding bottles; to automatically supply the caps to such applying means; and to automatically feed bottles into position to be capped and to remove them therefrom successively.

Further objects of my invention, as well as novel details of improvement and combinations of parts comprised in my invention, will be more fully hereinafter set forth and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein,

Figure 1 is a partly broken side elevation of a capping machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 1a is a plan view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 2 is an'enlarged cross section on the line 2, 2, in Fig.'1;

Fig. 3 is a detail, in section, on the line 3, 3, in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an end view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a section substantially on the line 5, 5, in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged face view, partly broken and partly in section, illustrating the bottle capping devices;

Fig. 7 is a partly sectional plan of Fig-6;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail side view of a portion of Fig. 1, illustrating the devices for operating the capping head;

Fig. 9 is a section substantially on the line 9, 9, in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is adetail section on` the line 10, 1o, in Fig. 9,

Fig. 11 is a 11, in Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a detail section substantially on the line 12, 12, in Fig. 8;

iFig. '13 is an enlarged detail section through one of the capping members, substantially on the line 13, 13, in Fig. 15

Fig. 14 is a similar view illustrating a.

detail section on the liaeill,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led February 6, 1915.

Fatented Sept. 25, 1917.

Serial No. 6,555.

cap partially applied upon a bottle mouth,v

taken substantially on the line 14,V 14, in Fig. 15;

Fig. 15 is a section on the line 15, 15, in Fig. 13;

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary detail of Fig. 14, illustrating the cap compressed upon the bottle mouth;

Fig. 17 is a plan view of Fig. 13;

Fig. 18 is a sectional detail view, illustrating the capping head in a depressed position on the line 18, 18, in Fig. 9;

Fig. 19 is a sectional view on line 19, 19, in Fig. 4;

Fig. 20 is a detail plan view of Fig. 19;

Fig. 21 is a section substantially on the line 21, 21, in Fig. 20;

Fig. 22 is a face view of Fig. 20;

Fig. 23 is a detail of part of Fig. 19, looking from the opposite side;

Fig. 24 is a plan view of a cap;

Fig. 25 is a section on the line 25, 25, in Fig. 24;

Fig. 26 is a plan view of the bottle feeding devices, with the capping ,devices removed, partly in section on the line 26, 26, in Fig. 27;

Fig. 27 is a longitudinal section, substan` tially on the line 27, 27 of Fig. 26;

Fig. 28 (Sheet is a partially inclined plan view of part of the bottle-feed operating1 devices, shown in side view in Fig. 27; an

Fig. 29 is an enlarged section of the bottle conveyer, substantially on the line 29, 29, in Fig. 1a.

The machine illustrated iny the accompanying drawings is shown provided with two capping heads, separate means for applying caps to said heads, and means for successively feeding bottles in two rows beneath said capping heads, whereby bottles may be simultaneously capped, two at a time, successively. 1t will be understood, however, that one or more sets of capping devices may be utilized in a machine, as desired, andthat the description of one set of such devices, as herein given will be considered to be applicable to any desired numl ber thereof.

`In the accompanying meral 1 indicates a main able construction. Said frame 1s shown provided with. standards or uprights 2, and

drawings the nuat 3 is a member shown journaled in blocks y 4 (Figs. 6` and 9) guided to reciprocate in frame of any suitscribed. Member 3 is i frame.

ways or guides 2a on said standards or uprights. The member 3 is provided with one or more capping heads indicated generally at 3a, the member 3 and said head or heads being adapted to reciprocate to apply caps upon the bottles. The head or heads 3a are provided with any desired number of radially disposed capping members 5 that are adapted to slide in bores 3b'(F ig. 9) in head 31. The head 3a may comprise two members having partial bores between them, said members being adapted to be secured together by bolts or screws 6. The head 3"L may be provided with any desired number of radially disposed bores receiving a corresponding number of capping members 5, each of said heads being shown provided with four of said bores and members 5 in the accompanying drawings. Upon the table or platefla of frame l, bottles A to be capped are adapted to be placed beneath a capping head. To

bottles, capping devices step by step, or periodically, for the bottles to be capped, I have illustrated the following arrangement: The ends of member 3 projecting beyond the blocks 4 are journaled in links or rods 7, 8, operatively connected with crank pins 7, 8a, on a shaft 9 that is journaled in bearings on standard 2 (Figs. 1, 1a, 4 and 5). Means for rotating said shaft will be hereinafter de.-

provided with a disk or plate 10 having equally spaced apertures or recesses 11 corresponding to the capping members 5 of head 3a, and said disk is shown provided with equally spaced pins or projections 12 corresponding to said capping eads (Figs. 8, 9, and 18). The recesses 11 are adapted to receive a pin 14 (Figs. 1a, 4 and 9) that is carried in a suitable slide or block 15, guided to reciprocate in a guideway 16a in a standard 16 carried by the main y means of the ways 16" coacting with corresponding ways on slide 15, and the plate 15l secured upon slides 15, the latter is retained in the guideway 16a, (Fig. 12). The pin 14 is normally pressed toward gisk or plate 10 bv a suitable spring 17 (Fig.

he relation of the parts is such that member 3 and the capping head 0r heads are retained, by pin 14 entering a corresponding recess 11, in proper position with one of the capping heads above a bottle, and when member 3 and the capping head descend, the slide 15 will also descend.

ereupon an enlargement or head 14a upon pin 14 will pass outside of a fork 18a on a rock arm 18 that is pivotally supported at 19 upon standard 16. While member ,3 is in a lowered position, after having risen a suitable distance from the capping position, arm 18 is rocked` (to the right in Fig. 9) to Withdraw pin 14 from a recess -11,.to

suitable construction, I

permit member 3 to be rotated a its return or upward stroke to normal. For this purpose I have shown arm or lever 18b of rock arm 18 pivotally connected by a rod or link 20 with a rock lever 21, pivotally supported at 22 upon standard 2, and adapted to be operated intermittently by the cam-like projection 23iL upon the disk or the like 23 that is carried by shaft 9 (Figs. 1a, 4 and 5). At 24 is a spring pressed dog or pawl (Figs. 1, 4, 8, 9 and 18)'shown pivotally supported at 25 -upon standard 16, which dog is provided with a hook or the like 24a (Fig. 18) in position to normally engage a pin 12 at the proper moment during the upstroke of'member 3, while pin 14 is temporarily retained out of a recess 11 of disk 10 by fork 18a, whereby during the remainder of such upstroke. of member 3 the latter will be caused to rotate a step to bring a succeeding cap head tion above a bottle.

shown provided with tion 7L (Figs. 8, 9 26, shown adapted able stop or screw step during The link or rod 7 is a depending projecand 11) 4carrying a pawl to rest upon an adjust- 27, which pawl, during the downstroke, will freely pass the toe 24b o f dog 24, and on the upstroke, said pawl 26 will engage said toe to tilt the hook 24a of dog 24 out of the path of pins 12. When member 3 is in the elevated position the part 24a of dog 24 will be beneath the lower right-hand pin 12, as viewed in Fig. 8. 7hen member 3 descends the two righthand pins will pass the dog 24 so that when a member 5 is applying a cap upon a bottle, the upper right-hand pin 12 will be below hook 24'"L (Fig. 18). After said member has risen free from the bottle, the fork 18a operates upon pin 14 to withdraw said pin from a recess 11, and retain said pin temporarily out of either of such recesses, and on the further upward movement of member 3 the fork 18a releases pin 14, which will then rest upon disk 10 and the upper right-hand pin 12 will engage hook 24a of dog 24, whereby', during continued upward movement of said member, it will be rotated substantially a quarter turn in the direction of the arrow a in Fig. 8, and then when a recess 11 of disk 10 has substantially registered with pin 14, the pawl 2G by engaging toe 24lb will tilt dog 24 away from said pin 12. Spring 17 will thereupon push pin 14 into a recess 11, to again lock member 3 to slide 15 with a capping member 5 in operative position, and member 3 will rise further to permit dog 24 to pass under the lower right-hand pin 12, as illustrated in Fig. 8. By this means each time member 3 is given a complete down and up stroke, it Will be rotated 4a step to bring the capping heads successively into the capping position.

While lthe capping heads 5 may be of any 5 into capping posias adapted to slide radially in the bores 3" of member 3 for a suitable distance, a pin 3c and slot 3d between the parts 3a and 5 (Fig. 9) limiting the outward movement of each member 5. The members 5 are adapted to be pushed outwardly by a cam-like projection 28, on a rod 28 mounted to slide within member 3, the latter having a recess 3e (Fig. 9) receiving said projection and the inner ends of the corresponding capping heads 5. The projection 28a is shown extending toward the bottles to be capped, and the capping heads 5 are shown provided with beveled anti-friction rollers 29 to engage the projection 28a and rod 28 Figs. 9, 13 and 17). ljod 28 is shown provided with a shoulder 28 normally pushed leftwardly in Fig. 9 by a spring 30, said rod also having a second shoulder 28d normally engaging the abutment 3f of member 3, to retain said rod in normal position. The outer end of spring 30 bears against a stop 31 secured to member 3 (Fig. 9). An outer end of rod 28 is shown flattened at 28h to enter a corresponding opening in slide or block 15 (Figs. 8 and 9), whereby said rod is retained from rotation, and is raised and lowered with said block and member 3. )V here the` capping devices are duplicated in one machine there may be two such rods 23, arranged as described, in which event the left-hand rod (Fig. 6) may also be flattened at 2S to slide in a slotted guide 28g (Figs. 1, 1a and 6) to aid in keeping said rod QS from rotation.

As each capping head 5, and the parts thereof, may besimilar, a description of one may suffice for all, as follows: Within a recess 5C of capping head 5 is secured a ring 32 (Figs. 13, 14, 15, 16) as by screw threads, which ring' is shown provided with aV curved or convex lower face, at 32a, to guide bottle mouths and caps, and with an annular shoulder 32h upon which the caps or crowns 33 to be applied upon the bottle mouths. may rest when pushed or otherwise placed within ring 39., to be temporarily retained by said shoulder 32b (Fig. 13). At 34 is a plunger, shown guided in the reduced portion of recess 5c and normally pushed outwardly by spring 35. shown bearing against the bottom of recess 34CL of plunger 34 and against the inner wall of recess 5, so that when cap 33 is pushed inwardly within ring 32, the' cap will be retained in proper position by plunger 34. Resting upon ring 32, and closely encircling the outer portion of plunger 34, are a series of radially disposed jaws or blocks 36, Ahaving their outer surfaces at 36a beveled or tapered inwardly.

' he laterally. extending portions'36b of said jaws or blocks operate in an annular recess 5 in capping member 5, whereby said jaws or blocks may move radially respecting said member 5 but are prevented from moving longitudinally with respect thereto. caps 33 are adapted to be forced or squeezed between the jaws or blocks 36 upon the bottle mouths. To this end the jaws or blocks 36 bear against a ring 37 adapted to slide frictionally within the recess 5c of capping member 5, said ring having an inner annular beveled or tapering surface 37a coacting with theJ corresponding surfaces 36a of the jaws or blocks 36. The ring 37 is adapted to bear against an annularishoulder 34" plunger 34, said plunger thereby normally pressing ring 37 against jaws 36 to crowd the latter inwardly. Ring 37 is provided with a plurality of recesses 33 (Fig. 13)

receiving springs 39 normally pressing outwardly to -resist lateral movement of ring 37 within recess 5c, friction disks or plates 40 between said springs, and member 5 serving to frictionally resist movement of ring 37. )Vith the arrangement described, after a cap 33 has been placed within member 5 (Fig. 13) and such cap is irst forced upon the bottle mouth, the plunger 34 will be pushed upwardly and the cap will be crowded, between the jaws 36 (lateral movement of the latter being resisted by ring 37), substantially as shown in Fig. 14, and then when the pressure is continued the jaws 36 engage the lower margin or skirt of cap 33 and press or crimp the same upon the bead A of the bottle mouth, for finally securing the cap thereto (Fig. 16). Then capping member 5 next recedes from the bottle the plunger 34 will beadvanced by spring 35 to aid in pushing the cap 33 from between the jaws 36, whereupon (when the cap has been released) the parts resume their normal positions, ing the ring 37 outwardly, which in turn causes the jaws 36 to approach and resume their normal positions (Fig. 13). In cases where bottles are of unequal length, and a capping member 5 would tend to crush a bottle because of its length, the pressure upon thecapping member 5 is relieved by the engagement of said member with projection 28 ofrod 28. since at such time,vby reason of the inclination of projection 28a or roller Q9. or both, the rod 23 may slide against the resistance of spring 30 the required extent to relieve the pressure upon the bottle, the rod QS-being returned to its normal position b v spring 30 when the pressure against said member 5 is released as said member rises from the bottle.

The caps 33 may be fed into the capping members 5 by hand or anism. For this purpose means for auton-iatically into the said members 5 at a point above the bottles. A cross bar 41 is shown carried by standards or upritjhts 2, and provided with. a head or enlargement 42 above the I have shown head 3. rl`he head or enlargement 42 has by any suitable mech-' feeding the caps The the plunger 34 pushiio the capping members as.. the latter rises with member a bore 43 slidably 44 (Figs. 19 and flange 44a receiving a tube or sleeve 21), having a recessed adapted to oppose and coact with as the latter are successively raised under the sleeve 44 (Fig, 19). Sleeve 44 is provided with a slot or opening 44h communicating with an opening 45 in .head 42 that is in communication with a chute 46 (Fig. 19), through which caps or crowns 33 may be fed in any suitable manner. To temporarily retain the or crowns within sleeve 44, one or more pins 47 are movably carried in head 42, which pins project through slots 4 in sleeve 44 into the path of caps within the sleeve. The pins 47 arefirmly connected by bars or rods 48 with plungers or pins 49 guided i'n bores in head 42 and normally pressed inwardly by springs 50 (Fig. 21) toward a reciprocative plug or plunger 51 (Figs. 9, 19 and 21) which is provided with an annular groove or recess 51"L to receive said plungers. The plug 51 is normally retained above slot 44b to permit the push said cap ring 32 of the opposmg capping member. The plug 51 is reciprocated -by means of a'rock arm or lever 52 engaging a bar 53 projecting from plug 51 and adapted to travel in slots 54 of head 42 Figs. 5, 619 and 21). Bar 53 is normally held in an upward or outward position by spring 55 connected with the adjacent standard and with arm or lever 52 by means of crank 56n on shaft 56 upon which said arm 52 is secured. Shaft 56 is shown provided with a projection 57 (Figs. 1a, 6, and. adapted to be operated by an arm 58 projecting from link or rod 7, whereby 3 and the that a capthe arm 58 engageprojection 57 and thereby rock 56, which will cause arm 52 to depress plug 51, whereupon plungers 49 and pins 47 will be moved outwardly to release a cap or crown from' said pins, and the plug 51 will continue downwardly and push such cap or crown from sleeve 44 into vthe opposing capping head or member 5. When the capping head next descends and passes away from sleeve 44 the latter may the cap and the plug 51 will downwardly into the capping heads, and at such time ping head has engaged sleeve 44,

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' slide, downwardly until stopped by the pins 47, until a member 5 next pushes sleeve 44 u pwardly. When arm 58 moves away from projection 57 the spring 55 willy cause arm 52 to rise to raise plug 51 to permit pins 47 to return to normal, in position to allow a cap or crown to pass from chute 46. into sleeve 44 below the plug and so on, each time members or heads 5 are reciplring 32, and

rocated.

sleeve 44. The plug 51 is preferably suitably magnetlzed to attract caps, whereby if a cap should not have been placed upon a bottle and a capping head 5 carrying a cap should be presented toward sleeve 44, the cap on the plug will not be placed upon the cap in said member, but will adhere to and rise with the plug, because of the presence of the cap in said member, and because the flange of the cap on plug 51 will not enter the cap within sleeve 44`will be retained on the plug until the first empty member 5 is presented to receive said cap. It will be Observed in Fig. 9 that when the capping member 5 is extended upwardly beneath sleeve 44, said capping member may slide inwardly in the recess 3" toward shaft 28, and, as member 3 is rotated, and the capping members 5 rotate around and engage the projection 28 of rod 28. said members 5 will be pushed outwardly successively by said projection.

7here two or more sets of capping heads and cap feeding devices are provided in one machine, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the bar 53 may connect with the corres ondinfr lues 51 in the manner de- P :s e,

bottles may be successively placed beneath the capping heads by hand, as required, but in order to automatically feed bottles beneath said capping heads, I provide means. described as follows:

As before stated, the bott-les are adapted torest upon table or plate 1"L beneath the capping heads. In an opening 1b within provide metal strips 60a which may be riveted to the conveyer, by rivets 60h, *igs 1L and 29), enabling the conveyer to slide freely under the bottles if they become blocked veyer 60 may operate such purpose I have shown a sprocket wheel 62, connected with the shaft of one of said rollers 61 and receiving a chain 63 from a driving sprocket 64 secured on shaft 65 having a bevel gear 66 meshing with a bevel gear 67 secured upon shaft 68, shown journalcd in bearings on the main frame lilo and standard 2. Shaft 68 is shown provided able guideways at 101 upon table 1a (Figs.- with a worm wheel 69 in mesh with a worm 2 and 26) whereby said cylinder is free to 70 secured on shaft 71 shown journaled in slide. At 102 isa shield over the cylinder bearings on standards 2, which shaft has a secured upon tablel1 and shown provided j 5- pinion 73 in mesh with a gear 74 on shaft with a slot 103 receiving pin 88, whereby 70,

9. Shaft 71 may be driven by a belt and said pin is free to reciprocate. pulley or in any suitable manner, whereby Cylinder 83 is shown provided with a promember 3 may be reciprocated by means jection 92 extending through a slot in plate of the links or rods 7, 8, and conveyer 60 1a and pivotally connected by a link 93 with may be operated in proper order. a crank arm 94 secured on a rock shaft 95 75 At the forward portion of the conveyer supported in bearings on plate 1a. The is a bottle defiector 7 5, shown in tapering lower extension of arm 94, is shown connectform adaptedto d'rect bottles laterally from ed by a link 96 with a sliding rod or pitman conveyer 60 (Figs. 1a and 26.) The apex of 97, adapted to coact with a cam 98'on shaft conveyer 75 may be provided with a cushion 68 whereby as said shaft is rotated the cyl- 80 of rubber or the like 7 6 to engage the bottles. inder 83 will be reciprocated. The machine Since the machine illustrated is adapted to is shown provided with two arms 94 for opsimultaneously cap two bottles beneath the. erating the two cylinders 83 simultaneously, corresponding heads 3a,I have shown guideboth of said arms being operated together ways 7 7, longitudinally disposed on opposite by connection with the'shaft 95 (Fig. 4). LA 85 sides of the machine, and provided between spring or springs 99 connecting the main parallel walls or rails 7 8 'upstanding and seframe with arm 94 operates in conjunction cured upon plate 1a, side openings 7 7a being with cam 98. The bottles being jointly fed provided adjacent to the inner portion of forward by conveyer 60 will pass between conveyer 60 for the passage of bottles to detlector 7 5 and plunger 80 when the latter 90 the guideways 77 (Fig. 26). As the bottles is retracted, and as the plunger is moved are fed forwardly on the conveyer and enforward by and with cylinder 83, the bottles f gage the deflector 75, the bottles will be diare fed along guideway 77 successively, step rected through the openings 77a into the by step. Should a bottle be broken in frontv appropriate guideway 77. of plunger 80 and stop the progress of the 95 In order to feed the bottles along the plunger, the spring 84 will be pressed, but guideway 77 to a position below the capping block 82 will continue to move forwardly heads, after the bottles pass from conveyer with cylinder 83, and when said pin 88 en- 60, I provide a reciprocative plun er 80 gages cani 87 said pin will ride up and over adapted to travel past the opening 7 a and. the cam and drop in front of the forward 100 within guideway 77, and I also provide portion 87a of the cam, disengaging cylinmeans to stop the operation of such plunger der 83 from plunger 80, (Fig. 27), so that inthe event that a bottle becomes broken in no further pushing action of the plunger front of the plunger. Tothis end said will take place on the bottles, whereupon plunger is shown carried by a rod 81 that is the machine may be stopped. 105 titted'to slide within a block 82 that is slid- When the bottles are fed by the plungerably supported within cylinder 83. A '80 to the bottle capping position they are spring 84 surrounding rod 81 and bearing temporarily retained in guideway 77 by reagainst plunger 80 and block 82 normally tainers105,which are carried by spring arms pushes said plunger forwardly, a pin 85 on 106 secured upon the walls 78 (Figs. 1 and 110 said rod limiting its forward movement. 5 in register with openings 78a in said j By means of a key 86 the block 82 is kept walls, whereby said retainers are free to from rotating within cylinder 83. Block 82 move laterally when a bottle passes between is shown provided with a longitudinal slot or from them. The retainers 105 are shown or groove at 82a (Fig. 2), receiving a camin curved form, having central depressions 115 like member 87 secured in a seat in rod 81 to receive the bottles and curved end por- (Figs. 2, 26 and 27). A pin 88 carried by tions to admit the bottles between them and cylinder 83 is normally pressed downwardly permit their ready discharge therefrom into a recess or cross groove 82b in block 82, (Fig. 26). While the bottles .may succesv which recess communicates with slot 82a, sively feed one another toward and from 120 whereby pin 88 is normally in the path of the capping position,/I find it advantageous cam member 87. For this purpose I have to provide means to automatically feed the shown cylinder 83 provided with a tubular bottles away from the capping position after extension 83; receiving saidpin and conthe caps have been applied on the bottles. co taining a spring 89 bearing against a shoul- To this end I have shown `fingers 107 (Figs. 125 der 88a on said pin and against a stop 90 on 1, 5, 26 and 27) normally extending crossextension 83a (Fig. 2). By means of a prowise with respect to guideway 77, and pivotjection or head 91 on pin 88, said pin may ally supported at 108 upon arms 109 probe lifted as desired. jecting from reciprocative rods guided e5 j Cylinder 83 is shown supported in suitin suitable bearings on plate 11. The fingers 130 ,propels bottles 107 are adapted to operate in the slots or openings 78, and are normally held extending in a direction across guideway 77 by springs 111 secured to stops at 112 on arm 109, the stop or the like 112 serving as a back-stop for the toe 107a of the corresponding linger 107, whereby the latter is resiliently retained in position to push bottles. Since I have sho'wn two arms 109 and two fingers 107 for each guideway 77, I have shown said arms carried by a cross bar 113 secured to the corresponding rods 110, whereby when said rods reciprocate all of the fingers 107 will correspondingly reciprocate. Arms 109 are shown passing through slots 114 in plate l? (Figs. 1a and 2 To reciprocate rods 1 0 and fingers 107 at the proper times, said rods are shown pivotally connected by links 115 with the rock arms 94 (Figs. 1, 4, 5, 26, 27 and 28), whereby as the plunger 80 is moved on the feeding stroke the corresponding fingers 107 will feed to discharge a capped bottle from between the retainers 105. iVhen the fingers 107 return they engage a bottle that has been pushed by plunger 80 between retainers 105, and said fingers turn on their pivots and snap behind a bottle between said retainers. The plungers 80 and fingers 107 in Fig. 26 are shown in a position between the extremes of stroke of plunger 80 and iingers 107.

A description of the operation of the machine may be generally as follows:

Caps may be considered to be in position in all of the capping members 5 except the one at the left in Fig. 18, the plunger 80 retracted toward the right in Fig. 26, caps in position in the sleeves 47 and bottles in position between retainers 105. The machine now being started, the conveyer 60 continuously toward deflector o, and member 3 descends, down upon the bottles. When the caps have been seated upon the first named bottles member 3 rises, whereupon pins 14 are pulled outfof recesses 11, dogs 24 cause the capping heads to rotate a step, pins 14 are released to engage other member 3 rises to cause caps to be deposited in upturned capping members 5 from sleeves 44, and after the capping members 5 have released said bottles, the plungers 80 move forwardly, together with the fingers 107. Said fingers push the capped bottles from the retainers 105 and plungers S0 push bottles into place between said retalners, the member 3 again descends to apply caps upon the bottles, and so on continuously. The capped bottles may be removed from plate 1a, as delivered from the guideways 77, in any suitable manner. v

My invention is not limited to the details of construction and arrangement of parts carrying caps recesses 11, land set forth, as the same may be'varied, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having now described my invention what I claim is 1. A capping member having a recess, jaws within the recess adapted to coact with a cap, means to support said jaws for lateral movement, a ring coacting with said jaws, means to frictionally resist movement of said ring by said jaws, and means to retain a cap in operative position with respect to said jaws.

2. A capping member having a recess, jaws within the recess adapted to coact with a cap, means to support said jaws for lateral move,- men a ring coacting with said jaws, one or more springs interposed between said ring and member to frictionally resist movement of said ring by said jaws, and means to retain a cap 1n operative position with respect to said jaws.

3. A capping member having a recess, jaws within the recess adapted to coact with a cap, means to support s aid jaws for lateral movewardly.

4. A capping member having a recess, jaws within the recess adapted to coact with a a plunger slidable within said jaws, and a spring normally pushing said plunger outwardly, said plunger having means coacting with said ring to normally push said ring outwardly.

5. A capping member having a recess, jaws within the recess adapted to coact with a cap, means to support said jaws for lateral movement and prevent longitudinal movement thereof within said member, a movable ring coacting with said jaws, said ring and jaws having coacting inclined faces, a plungerto eject a capped bottle and coactive with said ring to restore it to the normal position, and means to retain a cap in operative position with respect to said jaws.

6. A capping member having a recess, jaws within the recess adapted to coact with a cap, means .to support said jaws for lateral movement and prevent longitudinal movement thereof within said member, a ring coacting with said jaws, said ring and jaws having coacting inclined faces, means to retain a cap in operative position with respect to said jaws, a plunger having a porasy 'means to reciprocate imam tion movable within said jaws and ring, and a spring normally pushing said plunger outwardly.

7. A capping member having a recess, jaws within the recess adapted to coact with a cap, means to suppoit said jaws for lateral movement and prevent longitudinal movement thereof within said member, a ring coacting with said jaws, said ring and jaws having coacting inclined faces, means to retain a cap in operative position with respect to said jaws, a plunger having a portion movable within said jaws and ring, said plunger having means coacting with said ring to normally push the latter outwardly, and a spring normallyT pushing sai lunger outwardly.

8. A cap ping member having a recess, jaws within the recess adapted to coact with a cap, means to support said jaws for lateral movement, a movable ring eoacting with said jaws, a plunger to eject a capped bottle and coactive with said ring to restore it to the normal position, and a ring carried by said member without said jaws, said ring having means to retain a cap within said member.

' 9. A capping member having a recess,-jaws 'within the recess adapted to coact with a cap, means to support said jaws for lateral movement and prevent longitudinal movement thereof within said member, a movable ring coacting with said jaws, said ring an jaws having coaeting inclined faces, a plunger to eject a capped bottle and coaetive with said ring to restore it to the normal position, and a ring carried by said member without said jaws, said ring having means to retain a cap within said member.

10. rJhe combinatioi'if 'of a rotative head, capping members carried by the head, means to reciprocate said head with respect to a stationary bottle, means to rotate said head during one of its reciprocative strokes, means to lock and release said head, and means eoactive iaith said capping members to project them to the capping position an to compensate for variation in bottle lengths with respect to said heads when in sue capping position.

11. The combination of a rotative head, capping members carried by the head, means to reciprocate said head, means to rotate said head during one of its reciprocative strokes, means to lock and release said head, and means to cause said capping members to be projected radially for the capping position and to permit said members to recede from such position.

12. The combination of a reciprocative head, capping members carried by the head, said head, means to lock and release said head, said head having projections corresponding to the capping lduring one direction of movement of members, a dog to engage said projections during one direction of movement of said head to rotate said head step by step, and means to release the dog from a projection.

13. The combination of a reciprocative head, capping members carried bythe head, means to reciprocate said head, means to lock and release said head, said head having projections corresponding to the capping members,

a dog to engage said projection sai head to rotate it step by step, and an eX- tension connected with said head to reciprocate therewith and having means to coact with said dog to cause it to release the projection.

14. The combination of a reciprocative head, capping members carried by the head, means to reciprocate said head, means to lock and release said head, said head having projections corresponding to the capping members, a dog to engage said projection during one direction of movement of sai head to rotate it step by step, and an extension connected with said head, said eX- tension having a pawl adapted to coact with said dog when vmoving in one direction to release the dog from said projection, said pawl being adapted to freely pass the dog when said head moves in a reverse direction.

15. The combination of a rotative head,

capping members carried by the head, means to reciprocate said head, said head being provided with recesses and projections corresponding to the capping members, a slide, a pin cairied by said slide to coact with said recesses, a dog to coact with said projections, means to release the pin from a recess when said head moves in one direction, and means to release the dog from a projection after the head'has rotated a step when said head moves in said direction.

16. The combination of a rotative head, capping members carried by the head, means to reciprocate said head, said head being provided with recesses and projections coi-responding to the capping members, a slide, a pin carried by said slide to coact with said recesses, a dog to coact with said projections, a fork adapted to coact with said pin, and means to actuate said fork to re-` lease the head from the slide after said head is moved away from a bottle.v

17. The combination of a rotative head, capping members carried by the head,means to reciprocate said head, said head being provided with recesses and projections corresponding to the capping members, a slide, a pin carried by said slide to coact with said recesses, a dog to coact with said projections, a ork to actuate said pin, a cam operative with the means that reciprocates the head, and connections between tht` cam and fork to operate the latter.

18. The combination of a rotative head, cate said head, means to rotate said head capping members carried bythe head, means during one of its rcciprocative strokes, a to reciprocate said head, said head being rod slidable longitudinally of said head beprovided with recesses corresponding to the tween said capping members and provided capping members, a slide, a pin carried by' with a projection to coact with said mem- 70 said slide to coact with said recesses, a fork bers to project them outwardly, a slide, adapted to coact with said pin, means to means to guide said slide with said head, actuate said fork to release the head from said sli-de having means to retain said rod the slide after said head is moved away from from rotation, a spring coacting with said a bottle, a dog, means connected with the rod to resist its movement by the capping 75 capping head to coact with the dog to rotate members, means for locking said head to said head. after said pin releases the head, said slide on the capping stroke, and means and means to actuate the dog to releasethe to release said last named means from said head therefrom after the head is rotated one slide on the reverse stroke.

.step away from a bottle. 24. The combination of arotative head 80 19. The combination of a rotative head, having a plurality of radially disposed capping members carried by the head, means bores, capping members slidablel in said to reciprocate sald head, -said head being bores, means to rotate said head step by step,

capping members, a slide, a pin carried b from an inward to a capping position as 85 the means thatl reciprocates the head, conmeans to release said last named means nections between the cam and fork to operon the return stroke topermit its rotation.

ate the latter, a dog, means connected with 25. The combination of a rotative head 90 the head to coact with the dog, and means having a plurality of radially disposed operative With the head to release the dog bores, capping members slidable. in said from the head after the fork has operated bores, means to rotate said headstep by step, the pin to release the head and on the same means to cause said members to be projected stroke of said head. to a capping position as said head rotates, 95

he combination of a rotative head, means to retain said head from rotation on capping members carried by the head, means the capping stroke, means to release said` to reciprocate said head, means to rotate last named means on the return stroke to said head step by step, means to retain the permit its rotation, and means t-o resiliently head in operative capping position, a rod resist the capping members during the cap- 100 having a projection to coact With said capping operation to accommodate bottles of means to retain said rod from rotation, and 26. he combination of a rotative head, means to resist movement of said rod by a capping members carried by the head, means capping member. to rotate said head step by step, means to 105 he combination of a rotative head, lock and release said-head, a second head capping members carried by the head, means having a bore to receive caps, means to sup- Io reciprocate said head, means to rotate port said second head independently of and said head step by step, means to retain the above the first named head, means to feed head in operative capping position, a rod caps into said bore, means to retain and 110 aving a projection to coact with said ca release caps in said bore, means to feed caps ping members to project them outwardly, lfrom the bore into the capping members, means to retain said rod from rotation, and means to move the first named head away a spring coactmg with said rod to resiliently from the second named head and toward a resist its movement by a capping head. bottle to apply a cap thereon and to move 115 to reciprocate said head, means to rotate named head'to receivea cap therefrom.

said head step by step, means to retain the 427. The combination of a rotative head,

head 1n operative capping position, a rod capping members carried by the head, means 120 having ily pIOjeCtOIl t0 COaCt With Said Capto reciprocate said head, means to rotate ping members to project them outwardly, a Said head step by step, means t0 100k and slide operatively connected with said rod to release said head, a second head having a retain the latter from rotation, and a spring bore to receive caps and provided With a v coacting with said rod to resiliently resist passage leading to said bore, one or more 125 movement of said rod by a capping head. pins adapted to project into said bore to 2S. The combination of a rotative head, retain caps therein, means to retract said radially disposed capping members carried pins and release caps, and means to push by the head,` means to slidably retain said caps from said bore into the capping heads.

65, members upon said head, means to recipro- 28. The combination of a rotative head,

I caps vinto said capping members carried by the head, means to reciprocate said head, means to rotate saidhead step by stepfmeans to lock and release said head, a second head havinga bore to receive caps and provided with a passageleading t0 said bore, one or more pins adapted to project into said bore to retain caps therein, a plug to push caps from the bore into the ycapping members, and means actuated by said plug to operate said pin or'pins.

29. The combination of a rotative head, capping members carried by the head, means to reciprocate said head, means to rotate said head step by step, means to lock and release said head, a secon head having a bore to receive and provided with a passage leading one or more pins adapted to project into said bore to retain caps therein, a plug to push caps from the bore into the capping members, a plunger, means coactive between the plunger an plug for operating the former by the latter, and means connecting the plunger with a pin to operate the latter with the plunger to retain and release caps Within the bore.

30. The combination of a rotative head, capping members carrie by the head, means to reciprocate said head, means to rotate said head step by step, meansto lock and release said head, a second head having a bore to receive caps, a sleeve slidable Within said bore, means to support said second head above the first named head, means to feed caps into said sleeve, said sleeve having a slot, a pin operative in said slot to retain and release caps in the sleeve, feed caps from the sleeve into the capping members.

31. The combination of a rotative head, capping members carried by the head, means to reciprocate said head, means to rotate sai head step by step, means to lock andv release said head, a second head having abore to receive caps, a sleeve slidable Within said bore, means to support saidsecond head above the first named head, means to feed sleeve, said sleeve having a slot, a pin operative in said slot to retain and release caps in the sleeve, a plug in said bore adapted to operate in sai sleeve, and

means operated by said plug to actuate said pin.

. release caps in and means to' caps from said 32. The combination of a rotative head, capping members carried by the head, means to lreciprocate said head, means to rotate said head step by step, means to lock and release said head, a second head having a bore to receive caps, a sleeve slidable Within said bore, means to support said second head above the first named head, means to feed caps into said sleeve, saidsleeve having a slot, a pin operative in sai slot to retain an the sleeve, a plug in said bore adapted to operate in said sleeve, a plunger connected with said pin, said plug having a recess receiving rnd coacting With said plunger, and a springV normally pushing the plunger toward the plug.

33. The combination of a member having spaced heads provided With radial bores, capping members in said bores, means to reciprocate said member, means to rotate said member during one of its reciprocative strokes, means to lock and release said member, cap retaining heads above said capping members and provided with bores, means to guide caps into said bores, pins to retain and release caps in said bores, plugs operative in said bores, means actuated by said plugs to operate said pins, a bar connected With said plugs, and means to operate said bar to reciprocate said plugs simultaneously.

34. The combination of a head having a bore to receive caps, means to feed caps into said bore, means to retain and release caps in said bore, a magnetized plug to push caps through said bore, and a capping head having cap-holding means to receive caps from said bore.

35. The combination of a head having a bore to receive caps, means to feed caps into said bore, one or more pins adapted to project in said bore, means to retract said pins and release caps, and a magnetized plug to push caps through said bore and retain caps temporarily above said pins,and a capping head having cap holding means to receive ore.

Signed at New York city, New York and State of New day of February, A. D. 1915.

THOMAS OBRIEN.

in the county of York, this 3rd i Witnesses:

T. F. BOURNE, MARIE F. WAINRIGHT. 

